Title: An act relating to expansion of farmers market nutrition programs.

Brief Description: Funding farmers market nutrition programs.

Sponsors: Senators Rasmussen, Schoesler, Brown, Prentice, Roach, Jacobsen, Kastama, Shin, Fraser, Kline and Kohl-Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Agriculture & Rural Economic Development: 2/8/05 [DPS-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5597 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Schoesler, Ranking Minority Member; Delvin, Jacobsen, Morton and Sheldon.

Staff: Bob Lee (786-7404)

Background: The Farmers Market Program for Women, Infants and Children, and the Seniors Farmers Market Program are focused at providing increased opportunities for these groups to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables. Women and children in 23 counties and seniors in 35 counties are presently able to participate in the programs.

These programs also provide for an increase in customers to participating farmers markets.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Four-hundred thousand dollars from the state general fund is appropriated to the Department of Health to maintain the 2004 participation levels for the farmers market nutrition program for women, infants, and children.

Seven-hundred fifty thousand dollars from the state general fund is appropriated to Department of Social and Health Services to maintain the 2004 participation levels for the farmers market nutrition program for seniors.

Farmers markets are those entities that are defined in the bill, or may include additional entities as defined by rule by the Department of Health.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill includes a definition of farmers market for the purposes of this act.

Appropriation: Four-hundred thousand dollars to Department of Health and $750,000 to the Department of Social and Health Services.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Last week's work session demonstrated the positive results of these programs for women and infants, and also for senior citizens. The program assists in providing not only nutritious locally grown food, but also a connection with the local community. This program also increases the number of persons that participate at farmers markets and expands the support for local farmers.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Reverend Paul Benz, Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington; Katherine Boyd, Washington Area Agencies on Aging.